Cowboys Rookie Mini-Camp Preview

IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) – While most of the attention is on rookie draft picks each year, sometimes it’s the undrafted free agents that really make a rookie class.

Among the current Cowboys starters who went undrafted are quarterback Tony Romo (2003), wide receiver Miles Austin (2006), and center Phil Costa (2010).

So, who are the rookies we need to keep an eye on at this week’s Cowboys Rookie Mini-Camp? Danny Coale, Matt Johnson, Lance Dunbar, Tim Benford, and Donavon Kemp are my picks to click this weekend:

Quarterbacks

Nathan Dick – Central Arkansas – (6-3, 215) – Allen HS product is here on a tryout basis and has very little chance of making team.

Larry Smith – Vanderbilt – (6-1 ½, 216) – see above

Running Backs

Lance Dunbar – North Texas – (5-8, 205) – Haltom HS grad is the all-time leading rusher in North Texas football history and after flashing 4.47 speed at his Pro Day workout, Cowboys scouts became intrigued…barring an injury to DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones, or Phillip Tanner, he’s probably destined for a practice squad spot at best, but he has a legitimate chance with his hometown team.

Darrell Scott – South Florida – (6-0, 231) – was a much ballyhooed recruit in 2007 who chose Colorado over Texas, then transferred to USF…turned pro after rushing for 814 yards on 153 carries (5.3) and 5 TDs in 2011…ran a 4.59 forty at his Pro Day.

Saalim Hakim – Tarleton State – (6-1, 195) – if you have 4.23 seconds to spare, watch him run the 40 yard dash in this YouTube video…younger brother of former St. Louis Ram Az Hakim…caught 18 passes for 358 yards (19.9) and 2 TDs for Tarleton State in Stephenville in 2010…left college early to play for the UFL Las Vegas Locomotives.

Ronald Leary – Memphis – (6-3, 315) – big, strong interior lineman has a chance to compete for playing time immediately…voted team Offensive MVP…wasn’t drafted probably due to what is believed to be a chronic knee condition that won’t affect his immediate availability but couldn’t keep him from having a lengthy career.

Levy Adcock – Oklahoma State- (6-5 ½, 320) – possesses enough athleticism to make a run at a practice squad spot, if not a 53-man roster spot his rookie year…2-time 1st team All-Big 12 selection from Claremore, Oklahoma.

Taylor Dever – Notre Dame – (6-5, 298) – will need to add strength (19 bench reps) to make bid for roster spot but could contend for practice squad if he shows enough in camp…was Cowboys former 6th round draft pick Sam Young’s backup for 3 years prior to becoming the Irish starting right tackle the past two seasons.

Harland Gunn – Miami, Fla – (6-2, 320) – made 30 starts at offensive guard in his college career…will probably get a shot at center at this camp.

Tyrone Novikoff – Idaho – (6-7, 316) – big, strong (33 bench reps) tackle prospect…made 12 starts at right tackle as a senior after starting 13 games at left tackle as a junior.

Aston Whiteside – Abilene Christian – (6-2, 260) – 4.88 speed with a 1.65 split…just as a point of reference when comparing these numbers to the top edge rusher in the game: Demarcus Ware posted a 4.56 forty at the 2005 combine…so we might tap the brakes on these sleeper edge rusher prospects until we see them in training camp.

Caleb McSurdy – Montana – (6-1, 245) – inside linebacker candidate who was drafted in the 7th round, one pick ahead of higher profile ILB prospect Travis Lewis of Oklahoma…after a sluggish 4.97 forty time at the combine, McSurdy came to back to post a 4.75 time at his Pro Day…26 bench reps…appears to be a run stuffing inside backer.

Troy Woolfolk – Michigan – (5-11, 195) – son of former NFL RB Butch Woolfolk…Sugar Land Dulles-ex who made 12 starts at cornerback and 10 starts at safety as a 5th year in his college career…member of Michigan track team as a freshman, finishing 6th in 100 meters (10.56) at the Big Ten meet…4.57 speed…31 ½ vertical…6.77 cone drill.